Haim Saban and Simon Cowell enjoyed their evening at a Friends of the IDF Western Region Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Saban and Cowell donated $2.3 million and $50,000 respectively, and the event raised NIS 70 million in total.

The almost 1,200 attendees enjoyed a rare singing performance from Lionel Richie.

‘The Jewish and Israeli community in Los Angeles appreciates and embraces the soldiers of the IDF, and will continue to do everything [possible] in order to give thanks to them and strengthen them in whatever is needed,’ said Saban.

But Cowell didn’t stop there. He was even willing to embarrass himself by singing the Power Rangers theme song for – wait for it – $1 million.

Update: According to Hollywood Jew, Cowell also plans to visit Israel later this year.

Big name attendees were also scarcer this year, though Israeli mega-producer Avi Lerner was there, as was Electus founder Ben Silverman. The shiniest star in the whole lot, though, was the real “American Idol,” Simon Cowell, who sat gleaming in a corner with his very pregnant girlfriend (Jewish divorcee Lauren Silverman, with whom Cowell had an affair while she was still married) and from where he publicly pledged $50,000 to the Israel Defense Forces.

That’s right: Simon Cowell, critic extraordinaire, is officially a Zionist; and, on his way out of the gala, told me his plans to visit Israel later this year.

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An Aussie immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave is founder and managing editor of Israellycool, one of the world's most popular pro-Israel blogs (and the one you are currently reading)
He is a happy family man, and a lover of steak, Australian sports and girlie drinks